All films will be shown at:
University of the Art, Caplan Recital Hall
211 South Broad Street, 17th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Friday, March 11th, 2016- Event will have light wine & cheese reception
Opening Night Film: Manislam | Norway | 62 minutes | @ 6:00PM
Directed by Nefise Özkal Lorentzen
This film examines the burdens of manhood within Islamic cultures. It brings us a new interpretation of David vs. Goliath. The main characters, bravely and frankly, share deeply personal memories and experiences in their effort to highlight and question the role of men in contemporary Islam.
Director, Nefise Özkal Lorentzen and Producer, Jørgen Lorentzen will be available for a Q&A session via Skype.
Free KIND Bars for attendees courtesy of KIND Snacks.
Wine courtesy of CBL Wine Company LLC.
Friday, March 11th, 2016
Sneak Preview of “Dollface” | US | 5 minutes | @ 7:15PM
Directed by Layne Marie Williams
DOLLFACE tackles the web-like topic of the institution of marriage. Examining both the good and the bad, the film endeavors to explore everything from the societal, religious, and racial pressures surrounding the mystery of marriage to those that are self-inflicted, imagined, and even truly desired, through the characters of Dot and Max, a contemporary interracial couple faced with the curse of ultimate incompatibility.
Director, Layne Marie Williams and Make-up Artist/2nd Assistant Director, Hannah Reneé will be in attendance for a Q&A session.
Mariam | France | 43 minutes | @7:30PM
Directed by Faiza Ambah
Veiled Muslim teenager Mariam must decide between taking off her hijab veil or getting expelled from school in 2004 France when a law is passed banning religious symbols from public schools, at the same time that a popular boy in school starts paying attention to her.
Friday, March 11th, 2016
WAXING | US | 43 minutes | @ 8:25PM
Directed by Lexi Bass
Carl Jung suggested the possibility of a collective unconscious wherein we might access the collective memories of our ancestors through dreams. In this way, we seem to remember a time from our collective past prior to our evolution into humans. WAXING explores a personal mythology through dreams from written accounts maintained throughout the course of the director’s life. Set to Chemo Castronovo’s ethereal lunar soundscapes, these vignettes are based on dreams in which the Moon played an important role. Equal parts poetry and nightmare, WAXING attempts to engage the world in a dialog about the heaviness of responsibility, our fears of failure, what our dreams could mean, and where they come from.
Director, Lexi Bass will be in attendance for a Q&A session.
Friday, March 11th, 2016
A Queer Country | United Kingdom | 73 minutes | @ 9:20PM
Directed by Lisa Morgenthau
A Queer Country explores the development of Israel’s buzzing LGBTQ community in Tel Aviv – recently crowned the gay capital of the world – and what this means in a religious state. Using interview access to Tel Aviv’s mayor, who is controversially credited with pioneering its LGBTQ scene, the film uncovers how liberal attitudes are often at odds with the country’s religious laws.
Despite hosting one of the world’s largest gay Pride events each year, Israel’s LGBTQ citizens face an uphill battle to achieve political victories such as the right to marry. They face continued violence – as demonstrated at Jerusalem Pride 2015.
Director, Lisa Morgenthau and Producer, Harriet Davies are expected to be in attendance for a Q&A session.